Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to transform its transport sector through the adoption of electric vehicles, as Government moves to build a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable mobility system.
Government officials and stakeholders recently met in Harare for the Global Environment Facility-backed “Supporting the Shift to Electric Mobility in Zimbabwe” project, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable transport.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Simon Masanga said the initiative would deliver significant benefits, particularly in public transport.
“It is the right way to begin with in terms of public transport. Sixty countries are benefiting from this project, which has many benefits,” he said.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe said the programme would strengthen institutional and policy frameworks, modernise public transport and support environmental protection.
“The project objective is to accelerate Zimbabwe’s transition to electric mobility, focused on enabling institutional and policy frameworks for integrated e-mobility systems, demonstrating electric public transport through the e-bus pilot, scaling up and replication through regulations, standards and financing mechanisms, and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability, including the end-of-life management of EVs and batteries,” she said.
The initiative is aligned with Zimbabwe’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, with Government targeting a 40 percent reduction in national greenhouse gas emissions per capita by 2030.
Transport has been identified as a priority sector in achieving the target, given the rapid expansion of Zimbabwe’s vehicle fleet over the past decade.
According to Masanga, the project is expected to deliver an estimated 533 191 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in direct emissions reductions, while catalysing a further 1.24 million tonnes of indirect reductions by 2039.
He said the transition would also deliver environmental benefits beyond climate-change mitigation.
“Beyond its climate credentials, this project carries important environmental co-benefits. It will improve urban air quality and reduce noise pollution in our cities.
“Critically, it has been designed to address, from the outset, the environmentally sound management of end-of-life electric vehicles and batteries, ensuring that our transition to cleaner mobility does not create a new generation of hazardous waste,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s vehicle fleet has expanded more than fivefold, from about 300 000 vehicles in 2010 to more than 1.5 million in 2023, with most vehicles relying on conventional fuels.
The shift towards electric mobility is therefore expected to support Zimbabwe’s climate commitments while improving urban air quality and promoting a more sustainable public transport system.
